Kendra S. Horn: “Head Start should do what its name says it does, give a real head start to children growing up in disadvantaged…”

“Head Start should do what its name says it does, give a real head start to children growing up in disadvantaged families. The Head Start amendments of 1998 ensure that local agencies are accountable for successfully preparing children to enter school and for making sure that they are ready to read. New education standards, teacher training measures, and quality standards have been included, as the chairman says. Head start now strikes the appropriate balance between quality and expansion. The increased funding for quality ensures that the program has the time and the means to develop the capacity to provide higher quality services, creating a better future for the children and the families that it serves. A major goal of Republican education policy has been to send more dollars to the classroom while maintaining local flexibility and accountability. Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that a motivated, qualified teacher is a key factor in student achievement. Unfortunately, some of our teachers are underqualified, overwhelmed, or simply burnt out. This is understandable given the challenges they face. As a former professor, I can certainly see those challenges. That is why I am so pleased with the Teacher Empowerment Act which the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) has nursed through his committee and the floor.”